Cover sealing means for cooking utensils



May 27, 1952 o. M. BURKHARDT 2,598,220

COVER SEALING MEANS FOR COOKING UTENSILS Filed Nov. 5, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet l "'III'III'IIIIII'IIIII I y 1952 o. M. BURKHARDT 2,598,220

COVER SEALING MEANS FOR COOKING UTENSILS Filed Nov. 5, 1945 5Sheets-Sheet 2 May 27, 1952 o. M. BURKHARDT 2,593,220

COVER SEALING MEANS FOR COOKING UTENSILS Filed Nov. 5, 1945 5SheetsSheet 3 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- COVERSEALING MEANS FOR COOKING UTENSILS 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of cooking utensils and, morespecifically, pressure cookers.

Heretofore pressure cookers have been provided with various externalmeans for clamping the closure upon the container and for compressingthe sealing gasket between the closure and container. This has, in someinstances, required considerable exertion upon the part of the user andhas caused a permanent distortion of the sealing gasket. Also, the forceof such clamping means has been opposed by the pressure developed withinthe cooker, so that the clamping means must exert excessive force inorder to more than off-set such internal pressure and to maintain asealed condition. Furthermore, in many instances, it is necessary tofinish the sealing surfaces of the container and closure by machiningthe same in order to ensure dependable sealing engagement at all times.In this connection it might be noted that the common practice ofstriking a spoon or other utensil upon the edge of the container, is aptto mar rather seriously the finished sealing surface about the mouth ofthe container of a conventional pressure cooker. Also, the externalclamping means often detracts from the appearance of the device and isapt to limit the number of purposes for which the container may be usedand to interfere with the use of the same to a certain extent.Furthermore, the provision of such clamping means and the machining ofthe parts increase the cost of such a device.

Accordingly, the general objects of my present invention are to improvethe sealing eificiency of a pressure cooker and hence its operation, toenlarge its range of usefulness, to improve its appearance, tofacilitate and render more effective the cleaning of the same, and tosimplify its manufacture and reduce the cost of the same.

More specifically, one of the objects of my present invention is toprovide a cooking utensil in which there is effected a dependablesealing between the closure and container without the use of the usualexternal closure-clamping means heretofore required to compress thesealing gasket between the closure and container.

I intend to accomplish this object by means of a unique form of devicein which the weight of the closure sufiices for the initial sealingengagement and by utilizing the internal heat and pressure as a means ofperfecting and maintaining engagement of the sealing means, and byproviding a special form and arrangement of the sealing means and theseat therefor that will permit such sealing operation and in which thesealing engagement becomes more effective as the temperature andpressure increase. This constitutes another object of my presentinvention. That is to say, my purpose is to make it possible to utilizethe forces or phenomena which are incident to the use of the device as ameans of effecting operative engagement of the sealing means and withoutrequiring the use of the external closure-clamping means as heretofore.

Thus another object may be said to consist in providing a sealing meanswhich is so constructed and arranged that the heat within the device maybe depended upon for at least partially effecting the sealingengagement.

And, accordingly, another object may be said to consist in providing asealing means which is so constructed and arranged that the pressurewithin the device may be depended upon as a means for at least partiallyeffecting the sealing engagement between the closure and the container.

Another object is to devise a cooking utensil with such an efficientseal between the closure and container that it is capable of performinga cooking operation that is especially well adapted for the preparationof a beverage from roots, herbs, leaves or beans, as for instance tea orcoffee, which has heretofore been impractical in such a device.

A further object consists in devising a new method of preparing abeverage in such a device ifrom roots, herbs, leaves or beans, as forinstance tea or coffee.

A still further object is to devise a particular form of device that ispeculiarly well adapted for carrying out the new method just referredto.

Another object is to devise such a cooker in which the method ofmanufacture is greatly simplified and hence the cost of the same isgreatly reduced, while at the same time the appearance of the same isgreatly enhanced.

Another object is to devise such a cooker in which the sealing meansdoes not require a machined surface or surfaces and in which othersealing means may be employed.

Another object is to devise such a cooker that not only possesses themechanical advantages above briefly referred to but also presents anattractive appearance.

Another object is to devise a separate form of sealing ring which can bemost readily applied to the cooker and which will serve as a means ofcentering the closure upon the container.

More specifically, another object is to devise a sealing ring of unitaryform separate from the container and closure, consisting of metal andrubber or rubber-like material and adapted to function in such manner asto prevent scoring action between the metal surfaces of the closure andthe container as the closure is applied thereto.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims whenconsidered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of my present inventionwith the closure in closed position and corresponds to the plane of linel'-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown Fig. 3 is a partial viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the closure, in part, taken in theregion indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the closure, in part, taken in theregion indicated by the ar row 5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a form of my device correspondingtoline 6-6 of Fig. 7 this particular form of device being designedespecially for cooking and servingcoiieeprother beverage and this viewshowing also ;a specifiealiy different form of sealing means from thatshown in Fig. 1; I V

Fig. 7 isa top :plan view of theformofcooker shown in Fig. 6, the lefthalf of this view showin the container without the closure, and theright half of this view showing the closure upon the container; V

8 is-a partial View taken on line 8-8 of Fig. "7;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken online 49mm; a

10 is a partial sectional view illustrating the condition of the sealinggasket when the closure has been only initially placed upon thecontainer-and before it has been turned into closed position thereupon;

Fig. 1 1 is an inverted plan view of the holder for the coffee beansorthe like and'the supporting means therefor;

Fig, 1-2 is atop plan view of the same; and

Fig. 13 is -a vertical sectional view of the holder for the coffee beansor thelike, which may be removably placed within my pressure cooker.

[Itis to be understood that-the presentforrn .of disclosure is merelyforthe. purpose of illustrationand that there might be .devisedvariousmodifications thereof without departingfrom' the spirit of my presentinvention as-herein set forth and claimed.

The container l-may be stampedorpressed out of metal .or any othersuitable'material and its side wall may be of plain cylindrical form, asillustrated in "Fig. '1, lor .of ,a [modified form as indicated in Fig.,6 to which further reference will'be made below. In Fig. 1theitop'e'd'g'e 'of'the container extends angularly outwardly and thencedownwardly and inwardly .upon itself and aifords an annular inclinedinner surface I'd for the lower-part .of thesealing means. lit-spacedintervals this containerflange'is provided with outwardly extendinghorizontal'flat portions 'l-b for operative engagement with thedownwardly and inwardly extending 'portions 2a at equally spacedintervalsat the edge of theclosure 2. The closure -is provided with anannular inclined portion which affords asurface-Zb for engagemerit bythe upper part-of the sealing means. In thisparticularform of device,the closure 2 'beyond-theinclined portion 219, --is provided with theannular portion that extends substantially co-axially with respect tothe container body and that is so locatedwas to constitute with'theinclined portion 21) and the inclined portion la a groove for thesealingmeans. Not only 'does the groovexens'ure proper sealingengagement .but it also acts as a'mold for'theflexiblerubber orrubber-like sealing gasket so that,' at elevated temperatures :andpressures. it cannot take a set. The portion 20 is continued in the formof a depending skirt M which constitutes the marginal edge of theclosure except for the intermittent portions 2a and the handle 3 whichmay be screwed or otherwise secured to a flange extending outwardly fromthe skirt portion 2d.

Portion 20 will assist in locating the gasket concentrically and willensure initial sealing engagement uniformly about the marginal edges ofthe sealing gasket. Portion 2d acts as a shield to deflect downwardlyany escaping contents of the utensil if opened to the extent ofunlocking the closure before the pressure drops to that of theatmosphere.

The closure 2 is provided with the safety vent means 4, one form ofwhich is fully described in-myco pending application Serial No. 5305547,filed April 11, 1944, now Patent No 2,524,558, to whichreference may behadfor a fuller understanding of this feature.

The closure 2 maybe applied to the container l by positioning theclosure projections 21; 'between the container lflatprojec'tions lban'd'then turning the closure so as to bring the closure projectionsinto position to loosely .embrace the container projections. However, aswill belobeserved,'there 'is no camming or wedging action between theprojections lb and 2a but, on the other hand, there will be slightvertical clearance between these projections when in intereengagemerit."The purpose .of this inter-.engagementbetween the projections lb and 2ais to prevent dislodgement of the closure in any way other than byturning it about its own axis and to hold'the same in proper positionfor efiective engagement of the sealing means between "the closure andcontainer.

The one form of sealing means, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and'l'l),comprises arubber'or rubber-like endless ring member and an endlessmetal ring member. The rubber ring member is of a .truncate -like formincross-section and is ;adapte d'to seatin'the similar form of grooveprovided between the closure and container, as aboye described. Therubber ring'memher-has upwardly and downwardly inclined portions 512 and5a which are adapted for's'ealing enga ement with the'surfaflces'ib andla,respective ly; while "the ub e r ns'm' ber ha an'i tmel t r ion 50which is adapted forlsealing engagement with the {cylindrical portion 20of "the closure, according to the form of device as illustrated inFi'gs.land 10. Y

' FromFigJlO it is to .be noted thatthe outersurfaces of the inclinedportions 5a ,andfib ,of the rubber ring extend at more acute angles .tothe longitudinal axis of the device than do the surfaces la-and 2b;-;hence, without any weightresting upon the sealing member, there willhe a gap betweent-he surfaces 5a and la and also between the surfaces-dband 2b. The inclined :portions Ea and-5b .of the-rubber'ri-ng are ofsuch-resilience t at the e ht o h cl ure t th s a i means willcause'the-portions 5a and 5b foo -he fle suf i l t take re -t e a be ent same and-t e adia sur ace 1 d a. whew by the corresponding sealingsurfaces are brought t :more intimat e a eme so as to ef sc 'en initialseal. Thesealinggasket is so designedas to have im re i ta ce in hdirect n o the longitudinal axis of the'cooker, which-permits theinitial seal without axial pressure being applied byfleithernam or othermeans.

When the sealing means is in position, as herein indicated,andheatis'applied-to the nndenside Of the container, that heatwwill betransierredtp the food within the container mainly by conction and onlya small part or" ,it-willbe transmitted to the sidew lls throughthe.metal. .Exp rience has shown that closed utensils, when heat is appliedin theusual man ner, the con ents of the utensil.are;hctter than he.closure and sid walls. .Thereiore rin :5 will expand more-than eitherthe closure or the side walls and it will thus exert a. force radiallyoutwardly against the rubbergasket which isso shaped as to accommodatethe metalring '6, as herei illustrated. InFigs. 1 and l0,;for instance,the metal ring isgof substantially semi-circular cross section and thecurved surface thereof has engagement within the groove upon the innerside of the companion rubber ring.

Theefiect of the outward radial force that .is caused by expansion ofthe metal ring Sagainst the rubber ring, as above referred to, will beto brace and ensure roundness of the rubber ring which alone would belimp, and toycause'the same to conform to the walls of its groove toengage the same more firmly and even to compensate thereby for anyirregularities in such surfaces. The groove formed by the closurecontainer, as defined by the surfaces 2b and 2c, accommodates thesimilarly formed gasket 5 so that high temperature and pressure will notdeformthe gasket but rather more firmly mold it to the desirable shape.Furthermore, as ri G expands and the gasket is forcedmore tigh into thegroove, the result is that the gasket tends to separate the closure fromthe container and thereby ensures firm engagement of portions 2a withthe corresponding portions lb. ,It might be said that thegasketanticipates and compensates for the partial movement of the closure fromthe container, which under ordinary circumstances often causes leakage.

My unitaryreinforced sealing ring ensures and greatly facilitates theconcentric location of the closure upon the container; and the correctpositioning of the reinforced ring itself is greatly facilitated, as noparticular care is required in placing the ring upon the container. Infact the reinforced sealing'ring may be placed upon the container in acareless manner and it will assume its proper position thereupon as theclosure is applied, while at the same time the closure will be guidedinto its truly concentric position with respect to the container and thesealing ring therebetween. Experience .has shown that when the ring istoo small and the sealing engagement thereby is rendered too loose.laterally, then the application oftangential force to the handles willcause scoring between the -metal surfaces of the closure and container.But, with my present type of sealing ring constructed and arranged inthe manner herein described, less pressure is required to turn theclosure into sealed position upon the container and the frictionalengagement between the metal surfaces is relieved. The metal ring 6 or 8engages Qnlythe middle part of the rubbergasket so as to leave themarginal edge portions of the rubber gasket free to respond to theoutward pressure thereupon in order to complete the sealin effect aspressure develops within the'cooker. Thus I am able to produce a greaterand more dependable sealing effect between the closure and container,whichimproves as the temperature and pressure increase, such internalpressure exerting itself outwardly against the sealing means and causingstill further increased sealing engagement of OOKER;

functioning of. the seal n v mea s the ,iio nt between :the containerand closure. sin e the closure is not clamped down upon rubber gasket soas to distort the same in. he in usually found in such devices, thesealing ormy evice isireeato respond to the forceslwithin the cooker inthe manner justides r bed; and such internal f orcesjm ay be utilizedand dee pended upon "t p oduce an 'ciiectiv n a em n of the.sealingmeans. ,As wi lbe r adil understood, theforce of the clampingaction which has heretofore been employed-for e fe tin sea inengagement, ,and'theforce of the pressure within the cook r, are exert din such different direc tions that they may :be con d red as osi g achother and, asa result th e e t oi t outside clamping action upon thesealing means at least partially off-set .or nullifie by theme surewithin the cooker.

Wi hout the u ual external c ampin means for compressin the s aligasket, my pr sent arrangement permits the internal forces of heat andpressure to be exerted without opposition; and my present structure isespecially designed to render the sealing gasket fully responsive 120the forces within the cooker. In this way -I am able to obtain aneiicient and dependable seal. Also, the sealing means is molded to thedesired shape by the elevated temperatures and pressures incident toactual use of the device, instead of being permanently deformed by suchtempera tures and pressures. Moreover, I am able to eliminate the usualexternal clamping meansand the cost thereof and at the same time toimprove the appearance of the device.

The form of sealingmeans, as indicatedinilfig. 6, is specificallydifierent from that of In Fig. ,6 the rubber gasket has its outersurfaces formed in substantially: the same manner as those in Fig. 1.and the upwardly and downwardly extend ng portions 1a and 11) thereofare capable of operation in substantiallythe same manner as in theformshown in Fig. 1. Whereas'inFig. 1 the rubber gasket has :itsinner'surface of :con-

cave form to accommodate the metal ring 16 .of'

substantially semi-circular cross section, the middle inner part of therubber gasket in Fig. 6 is of convex rounded form that is adapted forin.- terengagement with the correspondingly formed concave outer surfaceof the 'metal ring 8,.the inner surface of which is of convex form.

Whereas in Fig. 1 the portion 20 is provided upon theclosure, acorresponding portion la is provided upon the edge of the container in."Fig. 6 except where one of the intermittent outwardly extending fiatprojections lb is provided with a depression VI) to facilitate pouring.The por-v tion lcjis adapted for seating engagement by the middle :part'{c of the rubber gasket.

In Fig. 1 there is shown :ahandle Id which may serve as an aid intilting the container ior emptying the same and .it'may also be employedin conjunction with. the handle 3 on thelcover. The design of containerin Fig. 1 isintended especially ;for meat and vegetables.

In Fig; 6 the container is provided with the handle jewhich may begripped for pouring from the spout if at the side opposite that of theham 7 die on the container. For instance, my present invention isespecially adapted for use in preparing coffee, tea or other beveragesmade from beans, leaves, roots or herbs, which may then be served fromthe same container, and the design in Fig. 6 is intended for thispurpose.

In fact, my present improved manner of sealing engagement between theclosure and container, makes possible a new method of cooking thesebeverages with decidedly improved results. With this in mind, thecontainer in Fig. 6 has its lower part bulged outwardly and thecontainer encloses an auxiliary hood 9 which is of hollow form and isspaced from the wall of the container which is indicated by referencenumeral ID. The hood 9 may have a removable cylindrical bottom part IIwith openings Ila at the bottom edge thereof for circulationtherethrough, the main part of this hood decreasing in diameter towardsthe top where it terminates in an upstanding annular flange forsupporting the holder l2 for the coffee beans or the like. If it bedesired to position the holder [2 at a lower level in the container Ill,then the bottom part I [may be omitted; in which event, the openings 9aat the bottom edge of the hood 9 will permit circulation. The holder 12,as here shown, is entirely foraminous so as to permit circulationtherethrough upon application of heat to the bottom of the container [0,the path of such circulation being indicated by arrows in Fig. 6. Theapplication of heat to the container [0 immediately beneath the openbottom of the hood 9, will cause motion up through the same and throughthe holder 12, while the cooler liquid or vapor will descend between thewalls of the container I0 and the hood 9 and pass through the openingsat the bottom of the hood, thereby completing the circuit. It should benoted that theoretically this circulation starts the moment when heat isapplied to the bottom surface of the container. It becomes more activeas the vapor pressure approaches the pressure of the atmosphere orwhatever pressure exists within the utensil if it is hermeticallysealed. This circulation causes a washing past the coffee beans or thelike within the holder [2, which action is augmented by the pressurewhich ensures speedy penetration of the coffee beans or the like andextraction of the flavor from the same in an expeditious manner.Circulation in a hermetically sealed cookeris assured because of thedisslpation of heat by the closure and side walls of the container andthe resultant cooling and condensation therewithin. The vapor condensesirrespective of the pressure and hence induces circulation in ahermetically sealed cooker is assured because of the dissipation of heatby the closure and side walls of the container and the resultant coolingand condensation therewithin. The vapor condenses irrespective of thepressure and hence induces circulation. The top is of the holder [2 hasa handle Isa for ready removal and replacement of the same. Theremovable cone-shaped holder 12 is supported upon the inclined throat ofthe hood 9. The upper end of the hood 9 has diametrically oppositelateral flanges 9b beneath which the lower parts of the locking members,attached to the top I3, are adapted to be engaged by turning the top 13through ninety degrees in a manner resembling that of engaging a bayonetlock, these locking members being indicated by reference numeral l3b.The top [3 is of the same foraminous char acter as the holder I2.

- present pressure cooker.

It has been found that at temperatures considerably above the boilingpoint of water, the desired volatile oils may be more readily extractedfrom the coffee beans or the like. Also, pressures above that of theatmosphere, commonly obtained in pressure cookers, facilitate thepenetration of the bulky particles to such an extent that whole coffeebeans from the roaster may be used in such form for making a beveragetherefrom. This means that it is possible to obtain two very desirableresults. First, none of the natural coffee flavor is lost by the usualgrinding process or afterwards, but it is all retained. Second, thereresults a prefectly clear beverage which is saturated with only thedesirable volatile oil which carries the natural coffee flavor and isfree of the colloidal parts of the coffee without the necessity offiltering. Thus I am able to retain only the desirable parts of thecoffee and to discard the bulk which remains in the coffee holder. Thesame thing is true of other beverages which may be made in the samemanner and with the same resultant advantages.

Thus my new method of preparing coffee contemplates placing the coffeebeans in the holder I 2 so as to preclude the loss of a substantial partof the natural flavor, as is usually the case; and this new procedure ismade possible by my new sealing means which permits more efficientpressure cooking. In fact, my present pressure cooker is capable of sucha high degree of efficiency that it may be possible to prepare coffeefrom coffee beans that are only partially roasted or not at all roastedwhen placed in my coffee-holder in the In other words, my present methodpermits the application of such high temperatures that the roasting ofthe coffee bean may be completed or performed entirely while thebeverage is being prepared therefrom in my cooker. That is, thepartially or entirely green coffee beans may be subjected to what may beconsidered as wet-roasting and brewing at the same time in my presentdevice. All of the desirable volatile oil, with the natural flavor ofthe coffee, is captured at once and none of it is lost In my presentinvention.

The exact location of the coffee-holder within the cooker may vary andthe same thing is true of the level of the water in the container. Theprinciple of my new method is that the cofiee beans, while suspendedwithin the cooker, are

subjected to considerable washing due to a circulation of hot Water orvapor therethrough and to the pressure which may be developed within myimproved form of cooker.

In the case of coffee as well as any other beverages or foods that areprepared in my present cooker, it is to be understood that during theinitial period of application of heat, the air within the cooker isremoved therefrom through the vent in the top of the closure, as morefully explained in my co-pending application above referred to. Thus, inmy present method, the cooking is done in a space from which the air isexhausted and which is most effectively sealed against the escape of theflavoring component of the food, tea or coffee or the like.

It is to be understood, of course, that my pres ent form of cooker iscapable of producing marked improvements in the preparation of variousfoods as well as in the preparation of coffee or the like. The point isthat I have discovered a new and improved method of preparing coffee orthe like, that can be carried out with my present form of pressurecooker that is also adapted for most efficient use in the preparation offoods.

My present sealing means, aside from being automatic in its sealingaction, is of symmetrical form and thus requires no particular attentionto install or assemble the same. It may be very readily applied andremoved for cleaning and it is reversible. Also, it-may be placed eitherupon the container or within the closure. By properly inclining thewalls of the gasket groove, there is realized a means of compensatingfor the variations which may occur in the height of the rubber gasket orthe groove into which it fits, and this feature also enables the sealinggasket to find its concentric position when it is placed between theclosure and container. Also, the co-axial portions ic and 2c serve as acentering means for the gasket. My present form of sealing means is notapt to become set and to lose its original shape as a result of pressurethereupon but, on the other hand, the shape of my gasket is maintainedand will therefore have a long life of usefulness. The seat provided forthe sealing gasket is of substantially the same shape as the gasketitself which is forced into such accommodating and suitable space sothat it is continually re-formed instead of being deformed by the heatand pressure.

The expansion of the metal ring 6 or 8 not only contributes to thesealing effect but it also partly covers the rubber sealing ring andthereby greatly reduces the objection of contamination of the food fromthe rubber gasket. Also, the form of the groove between the closure andthe container,

having outwardly converging side surfaces, allows for any diametricalenlargement of the gasket which is due to internal pressure, my gaskethaving an inherent tendency to follow the closure which, under internalpressure, tends to separate from the container until the portions 2a ofthe closure firmly abut against the portions lb of the container.

It is desirable that pressure cookers be made from stainless steel and,for the sake of economy, they should be made by the stamping process inorder to avoid the necessity of machining operations in producingsuitable sealing surfaces. But it is well known that the stampingoperation does not permit as accurate dimensions as does machining.However, with my present form of sealing means, it is possible to avoidthe necessity of the machining operations with the expense incidentthereto, and I am able to produce a most efficient and dependable deviceby stamping.

My new form of container may be of substantially regular or symmetricalshape throughout, the flat projections lb being only slightlyout-ofround, as compared with a continuous circumference, and not at allunsightly or objectionable in any respect. On the other hand, the entiredevice presents a very pleasing appearance especially in the absence ofthe usual clamping means or sharp corners for the securing of theclosure upon the container.

The edge portion of the container not only strengthens the same andpreserves its normal shape but its particular form serves also as aconvenient means for pouring or otherwise emptying the contents from thecontainer. Also, this reinforced edge of the container affords anefiicient form of seat for the sealing gasket which may be readilyapplied to and removed therefrom. Furthermore, my improved form ofcontainer is capable of being used for various purposes either with orwithout the closure. Since the sealing takes place well below the topedges of the container, the sealing efficiency will not be affected atall by any nicks or cuts that may occur in the top edge of the containerfrom rough usage or handling.

What I claim is:

1. A cooking utensil comprising a container, a closure therefor,releasable means for holding the closure upon the container, theadjacent portions of the closure and container having their innersurfaces so formed as to provide together a radially unobstructedinternal annular groove with outwardly converging marginal surfaces, andan annular flexible sealing means of like form arranged in said grooveand having axially and radially freely-acting yieldable marginalportions adapted for sealing engagement with the marginal surfaces ofsaid annular groove, the normal angle of inclination of the outersurfaces of the marginal portions of the sealing means, with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the container, being of less degree than thatof the marginal surfaces of said annular groove.

2. A cooking utensil comprising a container, a closure therefor,releasable means for holding the closure upon the container while at thesame time permitting slight axial clearance between the closure and thetop edge of the container when said closure holding means is ineifective position, the adjacent portions of the closure and containerhaving their inner surfaces so formed as to provide together an internalannular groove with outwardly converging inclined marginal surfaces ofsymmetrical form with respect to its horizontal axis, and an annularflexible elastic sealing means of like form arranged entirely withinsaid groove so as to have the upper and lower edge portions thereof inengagement with the inclined surfaces of said groove, said closureresting upon only the upper edge of said sealing means so as to providea floating arrangement of said closure with respect to said container,said sealing means being of symmetrical form with respect to itshorizontal axis so as to be reversible with respect to said groove, saidsealing means including the upper and lower marginal portions thereofbeing directly in the path of laterally exerted pressure within theutensil so as to be forced laterally into sealing engagement against theconverging portions of said groove, and the surface portions of saidgroove being entirely free of obstruction to the edges of said sealingmeans so as to permit freely-acting engagement of the same upwardly anddownwardly along the inner inclined surfaces of the container and. theclosure for centering and compensating engagement therebetween.

OTTO M. BURKHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 101,51 Savage Apr. 5, 18701,077,289 Nash Nov. 4, 1913 1,221,707 Durbin Apr. 3, 1917 1,519,767Demuth Dec. 16, 1924 2,277,824 Franson Mar. 31, 1942 2,292,819 BreeseAug. 11, 1942 2,330,425 Hilton Sept. 28, 1943 2,399,115 Hansen et a1Apr. 23, 1946 2,424,800 Coverley et al July 29, 1947

